Storage battery stripper



Ene 7 1938 w. F. EPPENSTEINER l STORAGE BATTERY STRIPPER Original Filed March 26, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l Y ATTORNEYS June 7, 1938 w.F. EPPENSTEINER 2,119,859

STORAGE BATTERY STRIPPER original Filed Maron ze, 1935 s sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNEYS June 7, 1938.

W. F. EPPENSTEINER STORAGE BATTERY STRIPPER l .Griginal Filed March 26, 1955 5 'Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT Y OFFICE s'roRAGnBAT'rERY 's'rnrrPEa William F. Eppensteiner, Railway, N. J., assigner Y. to The American Metal Company, Limited,I New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York v Original application March`2`6, 1935, lSerial No.

Divided and this application April v9,

1937, seriaiN0.135,9o4

17 claims. (ci. 13s-174) Thisinvention, a division of co-pending application, Serial No. 13105, led March 26, 1935,

relates to the salvaging of storage batteries-that' comparable material Within the open end of a cheap insulating casing. The rigors ofuse, constant vibration and shocks of its supporting structure, tend to shake the spongy material away from its supporting grids, and to injure the casing, to such extent that the battery has a normal life of from twelve to eighteen months; Thereafter, as a source of electrical energy, it vis substantially useless. However, the plate sections. and the sludge which has collected in the bottom of the casing, is of very considerable value and is a source of income to a fairly large salvaging `industry. The casing, however, is of substantially no value.

In'the past the salvaging has been carried out either by breaking the valueless casings by hand, or by manually removing the asphaltum seal and then separatingthe plate section from its casing. Both such methods were costly, and further, a considerable portion of the valuable sludge was lost. Further, the broken up casings were quite diicult to handle; and since the casing represents a loss in any event, any reduction which can-'be effected in the cost of handling it represents a substantial monetary gainin thesalvaging process. Y

vThe principal object of the present invention is'to remove the valuable metallic portiontof the battery from its supporting casing in an efficient manner, and one which will result in a recovery of substantially all the valuable material. There is very little salvage to be obtained from the casing itself under present economic conditions andb description` in the light and the other halfin the" sludge; 20 to 25 per cent'.

'by the casing; 1 0Vv per cent-by the plate spacers der`moisture. Jj A i According tothe present `invention the removal or stripping of thev plate section is accomplished by utilizing thev property of yinertiav of these somewhat heavy batteries. Specifically, the method practicedinthe present invention involves an acceleration ofthe battery casing, with respect vto the plate section, *whereby the inertia of the latter parts V`will brealrthefasphaltum seal holding them within the casing. Preferably this is done by allowing the Abattery to. fall freely in an inverted position-that is, with its sealed side and'other extraneous e1ements,`and the remaindownward-soasto' build up some considerable momentum`-and then "suddenlyI 'to-arrest the movement of'th'e casing so that the inertia of the heavy plate sectionrnayimpose a stress on-the asphaltum seal, of suiiicient magnitude to 'break that seal'andallowthe`plate section to escape. It is a further objectof the'inve'ntionv to provvvidean apparatus wherein such an. inertia method of stripping may be practiced; and to providesuitable conveying means in conjunction with the stripper for carrying away the separated parts of the batteryv to points of subsequent use. The u11hnature`=of the invention and other objects and features thereof will.I be more fully understood'bry a consideration of theI following of the `accompanying drawings, in which:'-" Y v Figure 1l isr a side, elevation, partly in section, 'of an apparatus embodying the principal features ofthe invention. v

Fig. 21isianend elevation of the same, also partly in section". j

Fig.v3 is a( plan viewfof the upper portion'of Fig. 2 draw'nrto a larger scale.` f l Fig. 4 is a view of one end of the detailed structure shown in Fig. 3, illustrating in its dottedline position, the supporting ofa battery at the top I of the chute; andinitszful-l line position, the releasingof that battery. l' A i Fig. 5 is a view'of' one side Iof the structure of Fig.- 3, withthe adjusting handwheland certain other parts omitted. L v Fig. '6 is a deemed. view of the other end of the structure of Fig. 3. j i

...Fig lisa detailed viewof the mechanism for washing the; battery cases .after has been removed.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line .8-8 yof Fig. 7..

the plate section as has hereinbefore been described, during flight, attains some very considerable momentum; and when the casing is suddenly arrested, all of the momentum of these heavy parts' is immediately directed against the asphalt seal so as `to break the latter.

Againreferring to Fig. 9, it will be noted that the spacing of the abutments B, B', is such as to leave an area therebetween through which the plate section of the battery may freely pass; and hence, when the casing is arrested, theseparts continue their downward flight until -they are engaged by the inclined chute C, and'they then pass laterally and downwardly to the elevating belt D, the latter preferably being continuously driven and being of any common form havin the usual adjusting mechanism.

The battery casing, unless it is in a very poor condition, will remain intact; and will rest upon the abutments B, B', as shown at A in Fig. '7. Obviously, before another battery is released lfrom the top of the chute, this casing A' must be displaced; and the invention provides means for accomplishing this in a verysimple manner. As shown in Fig. 1, this mechanism'comprises a pusher rod Q, suitably guided, and adapted to be reciprocated by a linkage system operated from treadle Q. This system may be of any suitable character, comprising, for instance, a plvoted lever Q2 operating a pusher rod Q3 connected, in turn, `Ato the arm of the bell-crank Q4, and a link Q5 connecting the longer arm of the bell-crank to the push rod Q. Thus, when the treadle is stepped upon, the push rod will be advanced (from leftto right as shown 1n Fig.' l) and its head will engage and move the casing A along the abutments and the track R (the'latter constitutinga continuation of the abutments; and the movement of the pusher is so limited that the empty battery box will move a distance' roughly approximating its own length so as to clear the abutments for the accommodation of the next descending battery. Upon release of thetreadle, of course, the counterweight Q?, either alone or in combination with the spring Q", will' return the pusher to the normal position as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 7.

The track R is disposed beneath a hood Pand is designed to guide the empty casings onto the elevating conveyor F for disposition in any desired manner. Prior to such disposition, however, it is desirable that the casings be thoroughly Washed in order to recover any sludge which may be retained therein, and for this purpose the invention provides a washing station located beneath the track R and comprising one` orl more jets of water G directed upwardly into the bottoms of the casings `from, nozzles R1 and water supply pipe R2. By thus sluicing v,out the inverted battery casings, all of the sludgeadhering to the inside walls thereof will be dislodged and will be collected in the sump H. Some considerable recovery of metal is made in this fashion, and in any event the sluicing operation cleans the casing so that al1 extraneous Weight isremoved therefrom prior tol its disposition.

During the cleaning operation the hoodP, of course, serves to restrict the spraying or spattering of the cleaning water; and this hood, if desired, may be provided with guiding ribs P" engaging the sides of the battery casings to prevent lateral movement thereof.

In constructing the device I provide a loading platform S, which, preferably, is at the unloading level of the gondolas as freight cars in which dead'batteries are brought to the salvaging plant. The-'unloaded .batteries may be moved on a conveyor U'to a .point-adjacent the top of the stripping apparatus, from' whence they may be lifted,

by handyfor example, and placed on the supportving arm M2. of the tripping mechanism. The latter I.is then actuated through the intermediary of lever Nto ydrop the battery and stripits plate 'section from the casing; and after each battery is stripped,y thetreadle 'Q1 is depressed by the operator'to move theempty casing laterally away from th'echuteta washing station; and the pusher .is"ret`racted, all Vin the manner hereinbefore set forth. y f

It sometimes happens in cold Weatherthat the small .amount'of liquid contained in the casings freezes and provides an additional seal tending to hold the plate sections within the casings. 'Also when this llquidis frozen it interferes Very mal"teriallywith the removal of the sludge. To obviate these disadvantagesl prefer to provide a heater T,shown in Fig. 1,- which comprises. a. chamber disposed overthe conveyor U and having a heating element, such asya'steam coil W disposedtherein. Preferably, as shown in Fig. 1, the batteries arcdisposed onthe conveyor U in inverted position ready for immediate 4transference t0 the top of thefchute. Hence lthe steam coil is preferably-f disposed beneathjthe 'belt Aso |`that its 'heat may b'e directed, most effectively, against the battery to-thaw lthe kfrozen material of the latter.

"The tracks R, hood P, guides Pl, abutments B, `B.and' 'inclined'.chute C,'.may comprise rela- 4tively'mov'qrbleparts of whichthose relatingA to one side of the'structure maybe secured to and supportedv :by thet H-beam. J, and those' relating `to Athe otheriside ofthe,v structure mayfbesevcuredjt'o andfsupported bythe H-beam J', so that' whe'nf the latter beam is adjusted, by the rotation of hand wheels L, L1, ,to adapt the mechaynism .for stripping batteries of any-` yparticular size, the abutments; the inclined chute, hood. and

'associatedparta of the mechanism will be corof vthe typehaving` a `plate section. sealed within a casing,'comprising a substantially vertical-chute into the'top ofwhicha battery maybe placed in an inverted position, said chute having a height several times as great as they depth of; the battery to bestripped, and spaced.' abutments arranged at the lower end offsaid chutel and `adapted to 'arrest only theI casing of thebattery so that its plate section may break the-seal by-its momentum and completely escape from .the casing.

2.{ An apparatus for removingthe interior' parts "of.- sealed batteries from their casings, compris sing a substantiallyv vertical chute yintov the top of "which thebatt'eries are placed inian inverted position, abutments arranged at the lower end of said chuteI and adapted t'oarrest only the casings so lthat the interior parts may break the seals by'v their momentum and thereby escape, and a battery-releasing supporting device mounted in the'top of f the `chute forternporaril-y supporting the batteries and for dropping Ithe same.

3. An apparatusfor stripping storage batteries of the type having a plate' section seaie'd within a casing, comprising a substantially lvertically disposed chute into the top of which such a battery may be placed with its sealed side directed downwardly, said chute having a height several times as great as the depth of the battery to be stripped; and an arresting means located at the bottom of said chute comprising a pair of rails so spaced apart as to engage only the ed'geportions of the casing of such a battery resting thereon and to leave a free area therebetween of such dimensions that the plate section of such a battery may pass completely therethrough, said chute being of such proportions as to direct a freely falling battery against said rails, whereby to arrest the casing and permit the'plate section to break away therefrom.

4. An apparatus for removing the interior parts of sealed batteries from their casings,*comprising a substantially vertical chute into the -top of which the batteries' are placed in an inverted position, spaced abutments arranged at the lower endfof said chute and adapted'to arrest only the casings so that the interior parts may break the seals by their momentum and thereby escape from the casings, a battery-releasing supporting device mounted in the top of the chute for temporarily supporting the batteries beneath their downwardly `,directed sides before dropping the same, and manually operated means for tripping the supporting-means.l

5. An apparatus for removing the interior parts of sealed batteriesA from their casings, comprising a substantially vertical chute into .the top of which the batteries are placed in an inverted position, abutments arranged at the lower end of said chute and adapted to arrest only the casings so that the interior parts may break the' seals by their momentum and thereby escape from the casings, a battery-releasing supporting device arranged at the top of the chute for temporarily supporting the batteries before` dropping the same, said supportingV means comprising a -plurality of arms arranged to engage the battery casings beneath their downwardly directed sides, and means for releasing the batteries from the supports whereby to permit the former to drop.

6. `An apparatus for removing the interior parts of batteries from their casings, comprising a vertical chute'having at its lower end an arresting means adapted to engage the edges oi' an inverted battery, a pair of rock shafts mounted near the top of said chute and having arms designed to nt under and engage a battery, latches for preventing movements of said rock shafts, and means for releasing said latches to permit the battery to escape.

7. An apparatus for removing the interior partsV of batteries from their casings, comprising a vertical chute having at its lowerend an arresting means adapted to engage the edges of an inverted battery, a pair of rock shafts mounted near the top of said chute and having arms designed to t under and engage a battery, latches forpreventing movements of said rock shafts, ,means for manually releasing said latches to allow said rock shafts to rotate to permit the battery to escape, and counterweights on said rock shafts tol restore the latter to operative positions after escape of the battery. f

8. An apparatus for stripping and salvaging the valuable parts of storage batteries of the type having a plate section sealedl within a casing, comprising a pair of abutments spaced apart so as to engage only the edges of ksuch a battery and to leave a free space therebetween through which the plate section of the battery can pass, a substantially vertical chute adapted to guide a freely falling battery .with its sealed side down against such abutments from a height suillcient to impart such momentum to the battery as will cause its plate section to break the seal and escape between the abutments when the casing is arrested by the abutments, and means located beneath the abutments for arresting the plate section after it has been completely separated from its casing. 9. An apparatus for removing the interior parts of batteries from their casings, according to claim 8, further characterized in that the chute comprises two vertical guide members, one of which is adjustable to alter the width of said chute to accommodate batteries ofvarying widths.

' 10. An apparatus' for removing the interior parts of batteries from their casings, according to claim 8, further characterized in that the chute comprises two vertical guide members, one of 4which is adjustable to alter the width of said chute to accommodate batteries Vof varying widths, said adjusting means comprising screwthreaded bolts and a threaded hand wheel engaging said bolts.

11. An apparatus for removing the interior lparts of batteries from their casings, according to claim 8, further characterized in that the chute comprises two vertical guide members, one of which is adjustable to alter the width of said chute, said adjusting means comprising a plurality of screw-threaded bolts connected to said adjustable guide member and a plurality of manually operable screw-threaded members connected to each other for movement, whereby the plurality o! adjusting members may be operated from a singleA point.

l2. An apparatus for removing the interior parts of batteries from their casings, according to claim 8, further Vcharacterized in that the chute comprises'two vertical guide members, one of which 4is adjustable to'alter the width of said chute, 'said adjustable member being provided i storage batteries according to -claim 8, further characterized in that the chute has an open side adjacent the abutments through which an empty battery casing may be moved laterally out ofl the chute. fr

14. An apparatus for stripping and salvaging batteries according to claim 8, further characterized in that the chute has an open side adjacent the abutments, and means for engaging an empty casing supported on said abutments and for moving it laterally out of the chute. 15. An apparatus for stripping and salvaging batteries according to claim 8. further characterized in that the chute has an open side, extensions of the abutments passing laterally through such open side, means for moving an empty battery casing with its open side down along such extension away from said chute, and means 1ocated beneath the extensions for directing streams of water upwardly into the open casing to wash out sludge.

16. An apparatus for removing the interior parts of `batteries from their casings, comprising four anged Hv-beams extending in vertical diand spaced apartrso that their inwardly directed anges define a guideway for the battery, a pair of spaced abutments at the lower end of said guideway adapted to. engage only the edges of the battery casing and to leave a free area through which the interior battery parts may escape, a

delivery chute located below said abutmentsadapted to lead the ejected battery parts to a point away from said guideway, a traveling carrier for receiving said parts, a pushing device for moving the battery casings laterally away from the guideway, a holding and tripping device at the top of said guideway, a manually operable means forv tripping said device located near the top of said guideway, and a manually operable means for operating said pushing device also located at the top of said guideway.

20 17. An apparatus for stripping and salvaging stantially vertical chute having an open upper end into which such a battery may be placed -with" its sealed side directed downwardly, abutments located in the chute approximately seven or eight feet below its open upper end, said abutments beingv'so spaced apart as to engage only the edges'of the casing of a descending battery while leaving a free area through which the plate section mayescape, arresting means located beneath the abutments by a distance in excess of thc depth of a battery plate section for arresting such a plate section after it has been completely separated from its casing, and an opening in a side of the chute adjacent the abutment through which an empty battery casing may be moved out of the chute.

WILLIAM F. EPPENSTEINER.. 2ol l storage batteries of the type having a plate section sealed within a casing, comprising a sub- 

